- Danthala Venkata Meher Baba
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Danthala Venkata Meher Baba Personal information Born 2 January 1950
Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh,Died 16 January 2008 (aged 58) Batting style Left-hand bat Bowling style Slow left-arm orthodox Domestic team information Years Team Andhra Ranji Team Hyderabad Ranji Team, South Zone in Duleep Trophy (9 Seasons) Career statistics Competition Matches Runs scored Batting average 100s/50s Top score Balls bowled Wickets Bowling average 5 wickets in innings 10 wickets in match Best bowling Catches/stumpings Source: [], Danthala Venkata Meher Baba is a popular cricketer of South India; he represented Andhra Pradesh in the Ranji Throphy Cricket Championship from 1971-1989, he also represented the Hyderabad Ranji Trophy Team in 1978; He was a left-hand batsman and left-arm spinner with 16-year first-class career spanning from 1970 to 1987. He made 2649 runs, with a highest of 134 not out against Goa, He also scored 20 half centuries and took 173 wickets with his slow left arm orthodox bowling with five for 32 being the best bowling figures, he had a total of five five-wicket hauls.
Meher Baba was born on 2 January 1950 in Kakinada, East Godavari District, Andhra Pradesh in India, he was the only son of father Danthala Ramayya Naidu and mother Danthala Padmamma. He was named after Avatar Meher Baba. Meher Baba, started to play cricket at an age of 17, where he was selected to represent East Godavari District in the Junior State selection Championship in 1967 in Kakinada. He showed exceptional skill in his left arm orthodox spin bowling and left hand batting, his consistent performance in the Junior State Cricket Championship got him selected to represent the Andhra Ranji Trophy Team in 1971.
Meher Baba made his debut against Mysore (now Karnataka) in Vijayawada during the 1971-72 season. He also captained Andhra in two Ranji Trophy matches in the 1982-83 season and represented South Zone in the Duleep Trophy and Deodhar Trophy on eleven occasions. He was also part of the South Zone team which took on the visiting England side in 1981-82 and also played against the West Indies team in a three-day match held in Hyderabad during the team’s tour during 1978-79
The gutsy all-rounder of yesteryears, who rubbed shoulders with some of the big names of Indian cricket including G.R. Visvanath, E.A.S. Prasanna and Salim Durrani, was one of the probables of the Indian team for the 1980 New Zealand tour. Meher Baba was widely rated as one of the hardest hitters in domestic cricket.
His daughters Archana and Padmaja represented the AP Women's cricket team; Archana also played for Inter State south zone while his son Srikkanth represented Andhra Under-19 and South India Under 19 Teams. Padmaja is currently working with HSBC in United Kingdom.
Meher Baba died on 16 January 2008 at his residence in Sainikpuri, Secunderabad, AP.
External links
Categories:- 1950 births
- 2008 deaths
- People from Kakinada
- Indian cricketers
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